Accidents involving children mostly happen at home, in a few seconds of distraction: a splash of hot tea, a baby rolling off the sofa, a small toy part slipped into the mouth. What a parent does in the first minute can shape how the injury unfolds. First aid for children is knowledge you hope never to use, yet every family should have it to hand.

This page explains what to do in the first minutes after common household accidents, what not to do, and when to call 112 without waiting. It is general information and does not replace a hands-on baby and child first aid course. Assessing and treating an injury is the doctor’s job.

The first step: stay calm and call 112

Panic is natural, but taking a couple of deep breaths makes the next steps easier to get right. First make sure the scene is safe for you and your child: turn off the hob, cut the electricity, move the child away from danger. Then check whether your child is conscious, breathing, crying or talking.

If your child does not respond, is struggling to breathe, is turning blue or is bleeding heavily, call 112 straight away. If someone else is with you, let them make the call while you look after the child. Put the phone on speaker and stay on the line until the call handler tells you to hang up. Give the following briefly and clearly:

Address: district, street, building and flat number, plus a landmark if there is one.
What happened: a fall, a burn, choking, a suspected poisoning and so on.
Your child’s age and condition: conscious or not, breathing or not, any bleeding.
What you have done: the first aid given so far.

What should a home first aid kit contain?

Keep the kit somewhere children cannot reach but you can find at once, and check its contents from time to time:

Sterile gauze, bandages and plasters: in different sizes.
Medical tape, small scissors and tweezers: for splinters or small embedded objects.
Disposable gloves and hand sanitiser.
A digital thermometer and saline solution.
A cold compress: for bumps; not for burns.
A fever reducer recommended by your doctor and any medicines your child takes regularly.
A list of emergency numbers: 112, 114 for poisoning and your child’s doctor.

First aid for burns

The first and most important step with a burn is to hold the area under cool (not ice-cold) running water for at least 20 minutes. This helps to limit how deep the burn goes and eases the pain. Gently remove clothing, rings and bracelets that are not stuck to the burn before swelling starts; do not pull off anything that is stuck. Keep the rest of your child warm while you cool the burn, as small children get cold quickly.

After cooling, cover the burn loosely with cling film or a clean, non-fluffy cloth. Do not put ice, yoghurt, toothpaste, oil or tomato paste on a burn, and do not burst blisters. See a doctor or go to the emergency department if:

The burn is larger than the palm of your child’s own hand, or looks deep (white, grey or charred skin).
There is a blistering burn on the face, hands, feet, joints or genital area.
It is an electrical or chemical burn.
The child is a baby, or the burn happened with smoke or flames; call 112 if there is any difficulty breathing.

Nosebleeds, cuts and grazes

Nosebleeds are common in children and can usually be stopped at home. Sit your child down and have them lean slightly forward, so the blood does not run down the throat. Pinch the soft, fleshy part of the nose firmly between two fingers and keep pressing without letting go for at least 10 minutes, while your child breathes through the mouth. Tipping the head back or laying the child flat is not right, as the blood is swallowed and can cause nausea. See a doctor if the bleeding does not stop despite pressure, started after a blow to the head, or keeps coming back.

For cuts and grazes, first press on the bleeding area for a while with a clean cloth or gauze. Once the bleeding stops, rinse the wound under clean running water, gently remove any dirt left in it and cover it with a clean dressing. See a doctor if:

The wound is deep or gaping and its edges do not come together.
The bleeding does not stop despite pressure.
The wound is on the face, has something like glass left in it, or is very dirty.
It is an animal bite, or you are unsure whether your child’s tetanus vaccinations are up to date.

Falls and head knocks: what to watch for

Young children fall often, and most falls end with a small bump or a short cry. A cold compress wrapped in a clean cloth on the bumped area may help to reduce swelling. If your child soon returns to normal, plays and responds as usual after the fall, watching them closely over the following hours is usually enough.

If any of the following signs appear, do not wait: call 112 or go to the nearest emergency department:

Any loss of consciousness, however brief, or a fit (seizure).
Repeated vomiting.
Unusual drowsiness, being hard to wake, or confusion.
A clear change in behaviour, crying that cannot be settled, or a worsening headache.
Unsteady walking, weakness in an arm or leg, or problems with vision.
Blood or clear fluid coming from the ears or nose.
In a baby, a bulging or tense soft spot (fontanelle).

If a baby under one year old has fallen from a height, such as a changing table or a bed, it is wise to have them checked by a doctor even if they seem well.

Suspected poisoning and swallowed objects

If you think your child has swallowed a medicine, a cleaning product or an unknown substance, do not try to make them vomit, and ask for advice before giving anything by mouth. Remove anything left in the mouth, keep the box or bottle with you and call 114 (National Poison Information Centre in Turkey). If your child is drowsy or confused, is struggling to breathe or is having a fit, call 112 directly. If a chemical has got into the eyes or onto the skin, rinse the area with plenty of running water.

Some swallowed objects are emergencies even when there are no symptoms at first. If you suspect your child has swallowed a button battery (from watches, remote controls or toys) or more than one magnet, go to the emergency department without waiting, even if your child looks well; a battery can cause serious tissue damage within a short time. A battery pushed into the nose or ear is just as urgent.

When something blocks the airway

If your child can cough, cry or speak, the airway is not completely blocked. Encourage them to keep coughing, do not slap their back and stay with them. If the cough becomes ineffective, or your child cannot make a sound or breathe, shout for help and call 112. In outline, the method recommended by mainstream first aid guidelines is as follows:

In a baby under one year: the baby is laid face down along your forearm with the head lower than the body, and back blows are given between the shoulder blades. If the object does not come out, the baby is turned onto the back and chest thrusts are given with two fingers on the lower part of the breastbone. Abdominal thrusts are not used in babies.
In a child over one year: the child leans forward and back blows are given between the shoulder blades; if the object does not come out, you stand behind the child and give abdominal thrusts.
These steps are alternated until the object comes out or the child becomes unconscious. If the child loses consciousness, basic life support is started with guidance from the 112 call handler.

Do not put your finger blindly into your child’s mouth to reach an object you cannot see, as you may push it further in. Any child who has been given abdominal thrusts should be checked by a doctor, even if they seem fine. Reading these steps is not enough: I recommend a baby and child first aid and basic life support course, ideally before your baby is born or in the first months.

Common mistakes

Putting ice, yoghurt or toothpaste on a burn. These do not cool the burn, may damage the tissue and can raise the risk of infection.
Tipping the head back during a nosebleed. The blood runs into the throat and is swallowed; lean forward and pinch the nose instead.
Making the child vomit or giving milk after a suspected poisoning. With some substances this can make the damage worse; call 114 or 112 first.
Slapping the back of a child who can still cough. An effective cough is the safest way to clear the object.
Sweeping the mouth blindly with a finger. The object may be pushed deeper.
Losing sight of the child after a fall. Warning signs can appear hours later.

Frequently asked questions

Can my child sleep after a knock to the head?

If your child is responding, talking and playing as usual after the fall, sleeping to rest is generally fine. Check on them from time to time while they sleep, making sure they are breathing normally and respond as usual when woken. If they are hard to wake or show any warning sign, call 112.

Which cream should I put on a burn?

The first thing is not a cream but cooling the burn under cool running water. After that, covering it with a clean dressing is enough. Which product to use for burn care is for the doctor to decide; home remedies can make the burn harder to assess.

My child may have swallowed a button battery but has no symptoms. Should I wait?

No. A swallowed button battery is an emergency even without symptoms and can quickly cause serious damage to the food pipe. Go to the emergency department without waiting, without trying to make your child vomit and without giving anything by mouth; take the battery packaging with you if you can.

Who should I call if I suspect poisoning?

If your child is alert and breathing comfortably, you can call 114 (National Poison Information Centre in Turkey) to find out what to do; having the product box to hand makes the advice easier. If there is drowsiness, difficulty breathing or a fit, call 112 directly.

Is a baby first aid course really necessary?

Yes, particularly for choking and basic life support, where seconds matter. These skills are learnt by practising on a manikin, not from written instructions. I recommend that other family members who look after your baby take the course too.

Accidents and First Aid for Children